Thousands evacuated in French wildfires

Firefighters battle wildfires in an area known to have burned to the ground last month in a pine forest in southwestern France.

The fire forced about 8,000 people to evacuate Wednesday and destroyed at least 16 homes.

A major highway near the city of Bordeaux was closed in the afternoon due to a fire raging nearby.

Officials in northern Spain’s Basque Country said France had stopped freight trucks from crossing the border in Irun because of the fire.

Photos released by firefighters showed flames rushing through a pine forest and clouds of dark gray smoke billowing into the sky.

More than 60 square kilometers burned in the Gironde region and neighboring Landes in the latest wildfire to erupt in the European country as the continent surges through a hot and dry summer.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that more firefighters had been dispatched to the scene to contain the blaze. In total, more than 1,000 firefighters, nine aircraft and two helicopters were mobilized, he said.

More than 39,000 people, including residents and tourists, were evacuated last month in the Gironde region after devastating wildfires.

France is experiencing its fourth heat wave of the year this week, with the government warning it is facing its worst drought ever. Temperatures in the south are expected to reach as high as 40 degrees Celsius.